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Key Takeaways
Best database administration degree programs: Bellevue College, City University of Seattle,
Ranked by graduation rates, program outcomes, and institutional quality
Tuition ranges from $4,073 to $53,235/year
Pierce College District offers the most affordable option at $4,074/yr
Database Administration degree programs available: 6 associate's, 3 master's, 1 doctoral in Washington
From community college pathways to advanced research degrees
Washington community college transfer can save 40-60% on total degree costs
6 associate's programs provide transfer pathways to bachelor's degrees
Education Commission of the States
Major employers: Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, Expedia
Tech hubs in Seattle and Bellevue
Hakia Research 2026
Database Administration degree programs near 43+ cities across Washington
Search by city to find programs within 200 miles of your location
Updated July 13, 2026
How we ranked Washington Database Administration programs
We rank 12 accredited database administration programs in Washington using IPEDS 2024 institutional data, BLS OEWS 2024 state salary data, and College Scorecard outcomes. A 4-factor weighted composite is normalized to a 0–100 score. Schools cannot pay for placement; rankings are produced algorithmically.
Are Database Administration Degree Programs in Washington Worth It?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Database Administration Degree Rankings in Washington
Compare the top-ranked Database Administration programs in Washington by degree level. Tuition, graduation rate, and Hakia Score for every accredited program.
Best Associate's Database Administration Programs in Washington
Program Landscape
Washington offers 6 accredited associate's degree programs in database administration, providing an affordable entry point into the technology field. The top-ranked programs include Pierce College District, South Puget Sound Communi..., Yakima Valley College, which combine rigorous technical curriculum with practical skills training.
Costs & Value
Community colleges in Washington offer these two-year programs at an average cost of $4,588/yr, significantly less than four-year university tuition. Students completing associate's degrees can pursue entry-level technical positions and transfer opportunities, with entry-level salaries averaging $79,877 in Washington.
Career Pathways
Many programs feature guaranteed transfer agreements with Washington's public universities, allowing students to complete their first two years at reduced cost before transferring to complete a bachelor's degree. The Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond areas offer particularly strong job markets for associate's degree holders, with employers like Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing hiring for technical support, junior development, and IT specialist positions.
Curriculum & Specializations
Programs typically include coursework in programming fundamentals, database management, networking basics, and software development. Among database administration schools in Washington, these associate's programs offer the best value for students beginning their database administration degrees in Washington.
Best Bachelor's Database Administration Programs in Washington
Program Landscape
Washington ranks among the nation's top destinations for database administration education, with 2 accredited bachelor's degree programs across 1 public and 1 private institutions. The highest-ranked programs are Bellevue College, City University of Seattle, recognized for academic excellence, research opportunities, and strong industry connections.
Career Outcomes
Graduates from Washington database administration programs earn a median salary of $123,446, 26% above the national average. The state's robust technology sector, anchored by the Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond metropolitan areas, provides abundant internship and employment opportunities with companies including Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing.
Costs & Value
Tuition ranges from $4,074 to $13,965 annually, with an average of $9,020/yr. Top programs maintain graduation rates above 96%, with the highest reaching 96%. Many programs hold ABET accreditation, the gold standard for computing education, ensuring curriculum meets rigorous industry standards.
Curriculum & Specializations
Students can choose from specializations including software engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science, and systems architecture. Strong industry partnerships provide access to co-op programs, capstone projects with real companies, and direct recruiting pipelines to Washington's leading technology employers. For students seeking database administration degrees in Washington, these top-ranked database administration schools offer the strongest combination of academic rigor and career preparation.
Best Master's Database Administration Programs in Washington
Program Landscape
Washington offers 3 master's degree programs in database administration, designed for professionals seeking to advance into senior engineering, technical leadership, and specialized roles. The top programs, U of Washington-Seattle, Seattle, Seattle Pacific, combine advanced technical training with research opportunities and leadership development.
Career Outcomes
Master's graduates in Washington earn a median salary of $145,230, approximately 20-30% higher than bachelor's degree holders. The concentration of technology companies in Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond creates strong demand for graduate-level talent, with Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing actively recruiting from these programs.
Costs & Value
Program formats include traditional full-time study (typically 2 years), part-time options for working professionals (2-3 years), and accelerated tracks. Tuition averages $34,241/yr, with many employers offering tuition reimbursement for graduate education. Some programs offer thesis and non-thesis tracks, allowing students to focus on research or professional development based on their career goals.
Curriculum & Specializations
Curriculum covers advanced topics including machine learning, distributed systems, software architecture, and technical management. Many programs include practicum experiences, industry capstone projects, or consulting engagements that provide real-world application of advanced concepts. Among Washington's database administration schools at the graduate level, these programs stand out for both academic quality and career outcomes.
Database Administration Degree Costs & Tuition in Washington
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average in-state tuition | $13,481/year |
| Average out-of-state tuition | $33,703/year |
| Community college tuition | $3,370/year |
| 4-year savings for residents | $80,888 |
| 2+2 transfer pathway savings | $20,222 |
Source: IPEDS 2024
Financial Aid & Scholarships for Database Administration Students in Washington
State Aid Programs
The Washington College Grant (WCG) supports database administration students pursuing degrees at public institutions. For 2025-26, families of four earning $78,500 or less qualify for free tuition at public colleges. Families earning up to $131,000 receive partial aid (WSAC WCG). Students are automatically considered when filing FAFSA or WASFA. Maximum awards cover full tuition at public institutions, with eligibility lasting up to 18 quarters (6 years). This support makes university database coursework accessible to students regardless of economic background.
Key Programs & Amounts
Professional certificates and certifications offer cost-effective alternatives.
UW PCE's Certificate in SQL Server & Database Development costs significantly less than a four-year degree while providing job-ready skills. Cloud certification exam fees are modest: AWS certifications cost $150-$300 per exam, Microsoft Azure certifications range from $165-$330, and vendor training is often available free or at reduced cost through AWS Educate, Microsoft Learn, and similar programs. Employers sometimes reimburse certification costs for current employees seeking database specialization.
Institutional Scholarships
Tech company training programs expand access to database education.
AWS offers AWS re/Start, a free, full-time, 12-week program preparing participants for cloud careers including database roles. Microsoft provides Microsoft Learn with free training paths for Azure certifications. Google offers similar programs through Google Cloud Skills Boost. These industry-sponsored programs can provide database training at no cost, though they require significant time commitment. Combined with community college coursework and WCG funding, motivated students can build database administration careers with minimal educational debt. For related financial aid information, see our data science financial aid guide.
Database Administration Degree ROI Calculator, Washington
Use our interactive ROI calculator to estimate your return on investment for a database administration degree in Washington. Enter your expected tuition costs, financial aid, and career goals to see projected payback periods and lifetime earnings. The calculator uses current salary data from BLS and tuition data from IPEDS to provide accurate estimates.
Database Administration Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your return on investment for a database administration degree
Leave blank to use average cost for selected program type
+1168%
Net gain divided by total investment. ROI above 200% is considered excellent for education investments.
$2,161,658
Your additional lifetime earnings with this degree vs. working without one, minus the total investment.
5 years
Years until your cumulative earnings exceed total investment. Shorter programs often break even faster due to lower opportunity cost.
$110,000
Your starting salary adjusted for local cost of living. This shows real purchasing power compared to a $100K national baseline.
Why does break-even change with program type? Your "total investment" includes both tuition AND opportunity cost (foregone earnings while in school). A 4-year full-time public university (in-state) means 4 years of not earning a salary ($140,000 in opportunity cost). Shorter full-time programs may have higher tuition but lower total investment because you return to the workforce sooner.
Detailed Breakdown
How we calculate your degree ROI using real salary data
Tuition plus opportunity cost (earnings you miss while in school)
Direct cost of the degree program
4 years × $35K/year foregone salary while studying full-time
Projected career earnings starting after graduation, with salary growth
What you'd earn working at $35K/year with 2% annual growth
Median salary for this role in your selected location (BLS 2024)
Your investment's compound annual growth rate (similar to stock market returns)
Data sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, IPEDS 2024. Calculations use median salaries, 3% discount rate, and assume salary growth declines from 6% to 2% over career. Individual results will vary. | Powered by Hakia.com
Database Administration Salaries by Metro Area
Median annual salary in Washington metro areas
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Seattle | $160K |
| Bellevue | $152K |
| Redmond | $145K |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Hakia.com
Top Employers Hiring Database Administration Graduates in Washington
Find database administration jobs in Washington. These major employers across Washington metro areas are actively hiring database administration degree holders. Click employer names to view current job openings.
Database Administration Jobs in Seattle
WASeattle is home to Amazon and Microsoft headquarters, plus major engineering offices for Google, Meta, and other tech giants.
Nearby cities: Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Tacoma, Renton
Database Administration Jobs in Bellevue/Eastside
WAThe Eastside corridor houses Microsoft's main campus in Redmond, Nintendo of America, and T-Mobile's headquarters.
Nearby cities: Redmond, Kirkland, Issaquah, Sammamish
Washington Tech Industry & Infrastructure
Washington's tech economy is essentially defined by Microsoft and Amazon. The Seattle metro hosts the headquarters of both, plus major engineering offices for Google, Meta, Apple, and a dense second-tier of cloud, AI, and enterprise tech employers. With no state income tax and University of Washington's CS program at the top of the western US, Washington consistently posts the highest tech-job concentration per capita of any US state.
Seattle / Bellevue / Redmond
Seattle metropolitan area
Headquarters of Microsoft (Redmond) and Amazon (Seattle); major engineering offices for Google, Meta, Apple, Tableau, Tableau, Expedia, Zillow, Costco IT. UW is the dominant CS feeder; total-comp at named employers regularly clears $200K for new bachelor's grads.
Spokane / Eastern Washington
Spokane metro
Smaller tech market focused on healthcare-IT (Providence), defense (Fairchild AFB-adjacent), and growing remote-work tech employment. Whitworth and WSU-Spokane feed the local market.
No state income tax. Washington levies a Business and Occupation tax on gross receipts that tech employers factor into compensation structures.
Washington Regulation Affecting Database Administration Graduates
Washington has emerged as one of the more active state legislatures on AI, biometric privacy, and consumer health data. The 2024 My Health My Data Act in particular is among the strictest US consumer health-data laws and shapes engineering practice at any company touching health-adjacent data.
Washington My Health My Data Act (MHMD)
Effective March 2024. Imposes strict requirements on collection, use, and sharing of consumer health data — broadly defined to include data inferring health status. Provides a private right of action.
Engineers at any company processing wellness, fitness, mental-health, or biometric data of WA users must implement consent, geofencing, and data-sharing restrictions. The law's broad scope of 'health data' makes it relevant for surprising amounts of consumer-tech work.
Read moreWashington Biometric Identifiers Act
Requires notice and consent before enrolling biometric identifiers in a database for commercial purposes.
Similar in shape to Illinois BIPA though narrower; engineers building biometric features for WA users must implement consent flows.
Read moreWashington AI legislation (HB 1394 et al.)
Washington has passed and continues to develop AI-specific legislation around government use, deepfake elections content, and consumer disclosure.
AI/ML engineers building products serving WA users should monitor evolving disclosure and bias-audit requirements.
Read moreProfessional Engineer Licensure in Washington
Washington does not currently administer a separate Software Engineering PE license. Standard engineering disciplines require ABET-EAC accreditation for PE eligibility; software engineering is not a Washington-recognized PE discipline.
Washington licensing boardWashington Financial Aid Programs
Washington College Grant (WA Grant)
State grantUp to $11,840/yr at public 4-year, up to $4,180/yr at community college
WA residents with family income up to ~70% of state median income (~$70,000)
College Bound Scholarship
State scholarship (early commitment)Covers tuition and fees at participating WA institutions
WA students who sign up in 7th-8th grade with family income at or below 65% state median income; must maintain 2.0+ GPA and stay crime-free
Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA)
Application portalN/A — application channel
WA students ineligible for federal FAFSA (e.g., undocumented) — opens access to state aid programs
Opportunity Scholarship (STEM-specific)
STEM merit-need scholarshipUp to $22,500 total (across 5 years)
WA students pursuing STEM or healthcare bachelor's at participating WA institutions with family income at or below 125% state median
Transfer Pathways for Database Administration Degrees in Washington
State Transfer System
Washington's Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) facilitates credit transfer for students pursuing database-related degrees. Students completing a DTA associate degree (90 quarter credits) satisfy lower-division general education requirements and receive junior standing at receiving universities (WSAC). The Computer Science DTA/MRP (Major Related Program) includes programming and math courses that provide foundations for database coursework. Database-specific courses (SQL, data management) taken at community colleges transfer with varying degrees of credit depending on the receiving institution.
How Transfers Work
Community college pathways provide affordable database foundations.
Bellevue College's IT and software development programs include database coursework transferable to four-year institutions. Students can complete SQL fundamentals, database design, and introductory data management before transferring. The AAS-T in Software Development includes database content and transfers fully to Bellevue College's BAS program. Seattle Central, Green River, and other colleges offer similar pathways. By completing database prerequisites at community college costs ($3,742-$4,990/year), students save significantly before transferring to university programs.
Transfer Planning Tips
Alternative pathways for database careers bypass traditional transfer entirely.
Professional certificates from UW PCE, vendor certifications (AWS, Azure, Oracle), and hands-on experience can qualify candidates for DBA positions without bachelor's degrees. Many DBAs enter the field through IT support, systems administration, or development roles before specializing in databases. This career pathway, starting with associate degrees or certificates, gaining experience, then adding certifications, offers a practical alternative to traditional four-year degrees. Employers increasingly value demonstrated database skills and certifications over formal academic credentials for DBA roles.
Washington Take-Home Pay Advantage
Source: Washington Department of Revenue
Database Administration Job Market & Salary Data in Washington
Employment Outlook
Washington's database job market is dominated by cloud database roles at AWS and Microsoft.
Amazon continuously hires for DynamoDB, Aurora, RDS, and Redshift teams in Seattle and Bellevue, with Software Development Engineer positions paying $129,000-$224,000 and Senior SDE roles reaching $151,000-$262,000 (Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter). Microsoft Azure database teams in Redmond hire for Azure SQL Database, Cosmos DB, and database migration services. Both companies require strong SQL skills combined with cloud architecture expertise, purely traditional DBA skills are insufficient for top-tier positions.
Salaries by Metro
Regional salary data for Washington database roles:
- Seattle Metro: $115,820-$133,810 for cloud DBAs, with senior positions at $140,000-$160,000
- Bellevue/Eastside: Comparable salaries with Microsoft Azure, Amazon, and enterprise companies driving demand
- Tacoma: $90,000-$110,000 with growing healthcare and logistics database needs
- Spokane/Eastern WA: $75,000-$95,000 with remote work enabling Seattle-level opportunities Beyond the tech giants, employers including Boeing, Expedia, Zillow, T-Mobile, and healthcare systems hire DBAs for enterprise database management. Financial services companies maintain significant database operations requiring both SQL Server and cloud expertise.
High-Growth Sectors
High-demand database skills in Washington include: Amazon DynamoDB and Aurora (NoSQL and relational cloud databases), Microsoft Azure SQL Database and Cosmos DB, PostgreSQL and MySQL administration, MongoDB and other NoSQL platforms, SQL Server for enterprise environments, data warehousing (Redshift, Snowflake, Synapse), and database security/compliance. The convergence of database administration with data engineering creates opportunities for DBAs who can build ETL pipelines, implement data lakes, and support analytics workloads. For related career paths, explore our data science programs or data analytics degrees.
Entry-Level (0-2 yrs)
New graduates and career changers
Senior (8+ yrs)
Technical leads and architects
Online vs On-Campus Database Administration Programs in Washington
Online Programs
0 available in Washington
On-Campus Programs
Traditional classroom experience
Compare Database Administration Programs in Other States
- Total Programs
- 4
- Median Tuition
- $24,600
- Total Programs
- 25
- Median Tuition
- $11,800
- Total Programs
- 47
- Median Tuition
- $7,700
- Total Programs
- 65
- Median Tuition
- $7,100
- Total Programs
- 19
- Median Tuition
- $47,600
- Total Programs
- 13
- Median Tuition
- $12,900
- Total Programs
- 10
- Median Tuition
- $13,900
Database Administration Degree Programs in Washington: FAQ
What are the best database administration degree programs in Washington?
How much do database administration degree programs cost in Washington?
What salary can database administration degree graduates earn in Washington?
Are there online database administration degree programs in Washington?
What companies hire database administration degree graduates in Washington?
Is a database administration degree program worth it in Washington?
How long do database administration degree programs take in Washington?
What financial aid is available for database administration degree students in Washington?
Data Sources
Institutional characteristics, completions, graduation rates
Washington salary and employment data
Program details and admissions information
Last Updated: June 26, 2026. Rankings based on IPEDS 2024 data. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
Taylor Rupe
Co-founder & Editor (B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State • B.A. Psychology, University of Washington)
Taylor combines technical expertise in computer science with a deep understanding of human behavior and learning. His dual background drives Hakia's mission: leveraging technology to build authoritative educational resources that help people make better decisions about their academic and career paths.